Today, I’ll be at a secret location in CT. It has to do with sports. It’s at a company that has four letters and is located in the central part of the state. The company was the subject of a recent book and a movie on it is in the option stage. Besides that, I can’t say anything more. Maybe later I can say where I am and what I’m doing there, but for now, it’s all on the DL. That’s not to be confused with Dan Levy’s On the DL, ok?
To the links.
A couple of big stories regarding college sports. The Pac-12 announced the formation of 6 regional and 1 national sports network that will air some 500 events including football, basketball and Olympic sports. So far, four cable providers have jumped on board. We’ll hear of more to come later.
And the Big 10 Network has announced a “TV Everywhere” mobile app. Time Warner Cable, DirecTV and Dish Network subscribers have already signed up. More are expected to follow as well.
We’ll start the links with those two stories.
First, the Pac-12 networks.
Richard Sandomir of the New York Times explains what all this entails.
Anthony Crupi of Adweek says the key content of the networks will be all conference football games that the national networks don’t air.
Jon Wilner from the San Jose Mercury News has details of the cable partnership and what will be seen on the channels.
Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News looks at the six regional Pac-12 networks.
Diane Pucin in the Los Angeles Times says the channels will be accessible to almost 50 million viewers.
Michael C. Lewis from the Salt Lake Tribune says Utah fans will see plenty of inventory thanks to the regional networks.
Kyle Ringo at the Boulder (CO) Daily Camera says the regional networks will offer hyper-local content.
Jeff Metcalfe at the Arizona Republic says the networks will launch in August of 2012.
Now the Big Ten Network “BTN2Go” TV Everywhere app.
Mike Reynolds of Multichannel News has details of the new app.
Now to the other links.
ESPN.com’s Ed Hinton pays loving tribute to his late wife.
Marcus Vanderberg of SportsNewser says the Los Angeles Times have laid off two very good writers.
SportsGrid’s Glenn Davis writes that suspended/not suspended ESPN.com writer Bruce Feldman is back writing for the sports behemoth.
CNBC’s Darren Rovell writes that the lockout will make the NFL even more popular with fans now.
Kristi Dosh, the lovely Sports Biz Miss has an interview with Texas A&M Athletic Director Bill Byrne about the impact of the Longhorn Network on college sports.
Pete Dougherty of the Albany Times Union looks at the extensive and comprehensive ESPN college football schedule.
Dustin Long of the Virginian-Pilot has focus group comments about NASCAR’s TV coverage.
Strange story coming out of South Florida. David J. Neal at the Miami Herald says former CNN anchor Rick Sanchez, fired for making comments about Jews in the media, will be the new voice of Florida International University football.
Scott Travis from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel writes that Sanchez will be working the games for free.
David Barron of the Houston Chronicle has an interesting story noting that ESPN is in an unenviable position of being a partner with the University of Texas on the Longhorn Network, but on the other hand, it suing the school in an open records case.
Mel Bracht at the Daily Oklahoman looks at Fox Sports unveiling its college football announcing teams for this season.
Mike Martindale and Doug Guthrie of the Detroit News report on ESPN NBA analyst Jalen Rose getting jail time for a DUI conviction.
Bob Wolfley of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel can’t believe the Pittsburgh Pirates are getting some national TV love.
Baxter Holmes at the Los Angeles Times says ESPN’s X Games continue to grow into a huge global entity.
Barry Janoff of The Big Lead talks with an Olympic marketer about the London Games changing the size of the medals. They’re as big as your chest now.
Ryan Yoder at Awful Announcing suggests different scenarios for the upcoming ESPN movie.
Sports Media Watch has some news and notes on sports media personalities.
Dave Kohl of the Major League Programs blog looks at the week in sports media.
And that will do it for the links today. I hope I will be able to explain what I’m doing at the secret location later.
